Know This Love: Five steps to opening the heart

Whether in relationships or with people on the street, it seems most of us have difficulty opening our hearts.

Some may go our whole lives without ever opening them, while others may open their hearts briefly before retreating back into caves.

Here are five steps you can take to open your heart to others, to love, and to life in general.

1. Be here now.

We so often escape the reality of the present by our addiction to thinking — about anything and everything and nothing. The best way to be open to love is to be here now, to be present with others, their words, and the experiences surrounding your interactions.

2. Check your posture.

No, I’m not kidding! Standing with a confident posture — like Superman or Superwoman, with hands on the hips and chest out — actually causes the body to produce confidence hormones and create courage where there was none.